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Tennessee Hotel 
Inspection Law 



II I II I I II II inn nil 



RULES AND 
REGULATIONS 




STATE OF TENNESSEE 

DEPARTMENT OF HOTEL INSPECTION 

Lucius P. Brown 

STATE HOTEL INSPECTOR 






of i^o 



^PR 24 t9^^ 



Tennessee Hotel Inspection Law 



CHAPTER G3, PUBLIC ACTS OF 1911 

AN ACT to provide for the protection of and to safeguard the health of guests 
of hotels; to require hotels to be equipped with fire-escapes, elevators, etc., to be con- 
structed in a certain manner; to provide for the sanitation and disinfection of hotels; 
to regulate the kind and character of articles to be furnished gu,ests in their sleeping 
apartments and the public washrooms; to define "hotels" as used in this Act; to 
create the office of State Hotel Inspector, and to define his powers and duties, and 
to provide penalties for all violations of this Act. 

Section 1 . Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Ten- 
nessee, That any building kept, used or maintained as, or advertised 
as or held out to the public to be, a place where sleeping accommoda- 
tions are furnished for pay to transients or travelers, whether meals 
are served therein or not to such transients or travelers, shall, for the 
purposes of this Act, be defined to be a hotel, and whenever the word 
"hotel" shall occur in this Act, it shall be construed to refer to and 
mean only such buildings as are described in this section. 

FIRE EXTINGUISHERS MUST BE PROVIDED. 

Sec. 2. Be it further enacted, That each and every hotel shall be 
provided with at least one efficient chemical or other efficient fire 
extinguisher on each floor for every fifteen hundred square feet or 
less of floor area. On each floor such extinguishers shall be placed in 
convenient location in the public hallway outside of the sleeping 
rooms, and shall always be in condition for use; or in lieu thereof 
such hotels located in cities having waterworks shall be equipped with 
not less than a two-inch standpipe with two-inch hose connection 
on each floor and with two-inch hose on each floor of sufficient length 
to reach and throw water into all rooms and on all parts of such floors, 
which hose shall always be attached to such standpipe, and which 
standpipe shall always be connected with city water mains with 
water turned on or supplied with other adequate pressure. 

HALLS AND FIRE ESCAPES. 

Sec. 3. Be it further enacted, That every hotel of two or more stories 
hereafter constructed or remodeled shall be provided with a hall on 
each floor extending from one outside wall to the other, and each end 
of such hall shall be equipped with an ample opening and with an iron 



4 HOTEL INSPECTION LAW 

fire-escape on the outside of the building, connected with each floor 
above the first, and at each opening to such fire-escape a red light shall 
be placed and kept burning during all hours in the night time. 
And in all hotels containing fifty or more rooms a competent night 
watchman shall be kept on duty from 9 p. m. to 6 a. m., whose duty 
it shall be to patrol the house not less than once every hour, and each 
hotel proprietor shall provide such watchman with a timekeeper, or 
some suitable device made to insure the punctual performance of his 
duty. Each fire-escape shall be well fastened and secured, and shall 
have a landing not less than four feet in length and two feet in width, 
guarded by an iron rail not less than thirty inches in height at each 
floor above the ground floor. Such landings shall be connected to 
each other by iron stairways not less than two feet wide, placed at an 
angle of not more than forty-five degrees and protected by well secured 
handrails on both sides of such stairway and reaching to the first floor 
above the ground floor, and with a drop-ladder twelve inches wide 
reaching to the ground from the lower platform. Such fire-escape 
shall be sufificient if a perpendicular iron ladder be used between the 
platforms instead of the stairways, provided such ladder is placed at 
the extreme outside of the platform and at least two feet from the 
wall of the building, and provided said ladder is equipped with iron 
rounds not more than fifteen inches apart and not less than three- 
fourths of an inch in thickness. The way of egress to such fire-escapes 
shall at all times be kept clear and free from all obstructions of every 
nature and kind. Storm doors and storm windows shall be consid- 
ered obstructions for the purpose of this Act, and such way of egress 
shall at all times be kept unbolted. There shall be posted and main- 
tained in a conspicuous place in each hall a printed notice, in charac- 
ters not less than three inches high, calling attention to and directing 
the way to such fire-escapes. 

ELEVATOR SHAFTS. 

Sec. 4. Be it further enacted, That the shaft of each passenger and 
freight elevator in each hotel equipped with such passenger or freight 
elevator hereafter erected or remodeled shall be enclosed with a sheet- 
ing of iron, brick or stone, as nearly airtight as practicable, and with 
tight doors to such shaft-way, or there shall be automatic trap-doors 
at each floor in such shaft, either of which appliances shall be built 
in the most approved m.anner for the prevention of the spreading of 
fires by means of shaft. 



STATE OF TENNESSEE 



SEWERAGE SYSTEM. 



Sec. 5. Be it further enacted, That each hotel located in any town 
or city having a system of sewerage shall be well drained, constructed 
and plumbed according to approved established sanitary principles, 
and all hotels shall be kept clean and in a sanitary condition through- 
out and free from efifluvia arising from any sewer, drain, privy or other 
source within the control of the owner, manager, agent or other per- 
son in charge of such hotel, and shall be provided with water-closets 
or privies, properly screened with wire at the entrance and in the rear 
and of sanitary design, for the separate use of males and females, 
which water-closets and privies shall be cleansd and disinfected as 
often as may be necessary to keep them at all times in a sanitary con- 
dition; provided, however, that in all cities, towns or villages where 
waterworks have been established and are being conducted, it shall 
be lawful only to install and use water-closets in connection with 
such hotel, and any other form of accommodation in such cities, towns 
or villages is hereby expressly prohibited. 



BEDDING. 

Sec. 6. Be it further enacted, That each hotel shall hereafter pro- 
vide each bed, bunk, cot or other sleeping place for the use of the 
guests, with clean sheets of sufficient length and width to reach the 
entire length and width of the bed, and with the upper sheet to be of 
sufficient length to fold back over the bedding at the upper end or 
head of such bed, bunk, cot or other sleeping place, twleve inches or 
more, and no sheets or pillow cases used thereon for a guest shall be 
used for another guest until they ha\-e been washed and dried thor- 
oughly. 



CLEAN TOWELS TO BE PROVIDED ROLLER TOWELS ILLEGAL. 

Sec. 7. Be it further enacted, That each hotel shall furnish the guest 
or guests in each room with clean towels, and fresh towels shall be 
placed in each room on the arrival and installation of each new guest. 
All towels in the public washrooms maintained for all the guests shall 
be clean and sanitary, and no towels of the so-called roller or endless 
towel type shall be furnished for the use of guests in such public 
washrooms. 



6 HOTEL INSPECTION LAW 

ALL PARTS OF HOTEL TO BE KEPT CLEAN — DISINFECTION. 

Sec. 8. Be it further enacted, That all parts of each hotel, including 
outbuildings, shall be kept clean and free from dust and deposits of 
dirt of all kinds, and all doors and windows shall be properly screened 
to prevent flies and insects of all kinds from getting into the building ; 
and all beds, bunks, cots and other sleeping places, and all sleeping 
rooms in which transients or travelers are accommodated, shall be 
thoroughly disinfected at least once in every three months, and as 
much oftener as may be required by the State Hotel Inspector, as 
provided for by this Act. Such disinfecting shall be done in accord- 
ance with rules to be prescribed by the Secretary of the State Board 
of Health and the State Hotel Inspector. 

RULES AND REGULATIONS. 

Sec. 9. Be it further enacted, That the State Hotel Inspector, as 
hereinafter provided for, and the Secretary of the State Board of 
Health, are hereby directed, authorized and empowered to make all 
reasonable rules and regulations for the purpose of carrying this Act 
into effect. 

STATE HOTEL INSPECTOR AND ASSISTANTS. 

Sec. 10. Be it further enacted. That the Pure Food and Drugs In- 
spector of the State is hereby constituted ex-ofificio State Hotel 
Inspector and the duly appointed Assistant Food and Drugs Inspec- 
tors of the State and the County Health Officer of each county in the 
State, and the City Health Officer of each city in which such office 
now exists, or may hereafter be created, are hereby constituted 
ex-officio Assistant Hotel Inspectors, and such assistants shall be under 
the exclusive direction, supervision and control of the State Hotel 
Inspector. Each hotel in this State shall be inspected at least once 
in each year and as much oftener as the State Hotel Inspector may 
deem necessary and advisable. 

The State Hotel Inspector and assistants, as provided for, are 
hereby granted police powers for the purpose of enabling them to 
enter any hotel at reasonable hours to determine w^hether the provi- 
sions of this Act are being complied with. 

The State Hotel Inspector shall keep a complete set of books for 
public use and inspection, showing the condition of each hotel so in- 
spected, together with the names of the owners, proprietors and 
managers thereof, the sanitary condition thereof, the number and con- 



HOTEL INSPECTION LAW / 

dition of its fire-escapes, elevators, etc., and any other information 
that the State Hotel Inspector may deem advisable for the betterment 
of the hotel service in the State. All statutes and municipal ordi- 
nances or regulations providing for the inspection of hotels, and which 
are now enforced by certain State or county officials, shall hereafter 
be enforced exclusively by the State Hotel Inspector and his assistants. 
No extra compensation shall be allowed the State Hotel Inspector 
or his assistants for performing the duties imposed on them and each 
of them under the terms and provisions of this Act. 



CERTIFICATES MUST BE DISPLAYED. 

Sec. 11. Be it further enacted, That each Inspector, upon inspect- 
ing any hotel, shall report the condition of such hotel to the State 
Hotel Inspector, who shall, if such inspection shows the hotel has 
complied with this Act, and with the rules and regulations hereinbefore 
authorized to be made by the State Hotel Inspector and the Secretary 
of the State Board of Health, issue a certificate to that effect and de- 
liver the same to the owner, manager, agent or person in charge of 
such hotel, which certificate shall be displayed in a conspicuous place 
in the office of such hotel and shall show the date of such inspection. 
It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, association or corporation to 
operate, keep open or use any hotel for travelers or transients unless 
a certificate of inspection as provided for in this Act, and by the rules 
and regulations herein authorized, shall have been issued to such per- 
son, firm, association or corporation. 



VIOLATIONS AND PENALTIES. 

Sec. 12. Be it further enacted, That every owner, manager, pro- 
prietor, agent, lessee or other person in charge of and conducting any 
hotel who shall fail to comply with any of the provisions of this Act, 
or with the rules and regulations promulgated by the State Hotel 
Inspector and the Secretary of the State Board of Health, as herein- 
before provided for, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and 
upon conviction shall be fined not less than SIO.OO nor more than 
$100.00 for each offense, and each day after sufficient notice has been 
given that such hotel is being carried on and conducted in violation 
of any of the terms and provisions of this Act shall constitute a sep- 
arate ofifense. 



8 HOTEL INSPECTION LAW 

PENALTY FOR INTERFERENCE WITH INSPECTORS. 

Sec. 13. Be it further enacted, That any person who shall obstruct 
or hinder an inspector in the proper discharge of his duties under this 
Act, or the rules and regulations adopted under the terms of this Act 
by the State Hotel Inspector, and the Secretary of the State Board 
of Health, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punished by 
a fine of not less than $10.00 nor more than $100.00 for every such 
offense. 

FAILURE OF ASSISTANT INSPECTORS IN DUTY. 

Sec 14. Be it further enacted, That it shall be a misdemeanor for 
the State Hotel Inspector or the Assistant Inspectors, as provided for 
in this Act, to fail to perform the duties required and exacted of them 
under the terms of this Act or the rules and regulations promulgated 
by the State Hotel Inspector and the Secretary of the State Board 
of Health, and upon conviction such inspectors shall be fined not less 
than $10.00 nor more than $100.00 for every such offense. 

■ fines to be used towards enforcement OF ACT. 

Sec 15. Be it further enacted, That all fines collected under the 
provisions of this Act shall be paid to the State Treasury and shall 
be used and applied in assisting the carrying out of the full purpose 
and intent of this Act. Such funds shall be paid out by warrants of 
the State Comptroller upon certified bills being filed, approved by 
the State Hotel Inspector. 

EACH SECTION TO BE VALID. 

Sec 16. Be it further enacted. That each section of this Act is 
hereby declared to be separate and independent of all other sections 
hereof, and the invalidity of any section shall not impair or destroy 
the other sections hereof, as they would have been passed by the Gen- 
eral Assembly if such invalid sections had been stricken out at the time 
of the passage of this Act. 

Sec 17. Be it further enacted. That this Act take effect from and 
after January 1, 1912, the public welfare requiring it. 

Passed July 5, 1911. A. M. Leach, 

Speaker of the House of Representatives. 
N. Baxter, Jr., 
Speaker of the Senate 

Approved July G, 1911. Ben W. Hooper, 

Governor. 



STATE OF TENNESSEE 9 

CHAPTER 178, ACTS 1S99. 

AX ACT to provide for the better protection of life against fire in hotels and 
lodging houses in the State. 

HOTELS AND LODGING HOUSES TO PROVIDE ROPE OR ROPE LADDER. 

Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Ten- 
nessee, That it is hereby made the duty of every keeper or proprietor 
of every hotel or lodging house in the State over two stories in height 
to provide and securely fasten in every lodging room above the second 
story which has an outside window, and is used for the accommoda- 
tion of guests, or employes, a rope or rope ladder for the escape of 
the lodgers therein in case of fire, of at least one inch in diameter, which 
shall be securely fastened within in each room, as near a window as 
practicable, and of sufficient length to reach therefrom to the ground 
on the outside of such hotel or lodging house, and made of strong ma- 
terial, and as secure against becoming inflamed as practicable. Such 
rope or rope ladder shall be kept in good repair and condition. In 
lieu of a rope or rope ladder there may be substituted any other ap- 
pliance that may be deemed of equal or greater utility by the fire 
department or other authority as ma\ have control of fire regulations 
in the city or town where such hotel or lodging house is located, but 
such appliance shall in all cases be so constructed as to be under the 
control and management of any lodger in such room. 

IRON BALCONIES AND STAIRS. 

Sec. 2. Be it further enacted, That every hotel or lodging house in 
this State, over three stories in height, shall be provided without delay 
with permanent iron balconies, with iron stairs leading from one bal- 
cony to the other, to be placed at the end of each hall above the third 
story in case such hotel is over one hundred and fifty feet in length, 
and in other cases such number as may be directed by the fire de- 
partment or such other authority as may have the control of fire regu- 
lations in city or town where such hotel or lodging house is located. 
Such balconies and iron stairs shall be constructed at the expense of 
the owner of such hotel or lodging house. 

GUESTS TO BE INFORMED OF ESCAPES. 

Sec. 3. Be it further enacted, That it shall be the duty of every such 
proprietor or keeper of any hotel or lodging house to call attention to 
the fact that this act has been complied with, and the part of such 
room where such coil of rope or rope ladder is fastened. 



10 HOTEL INSPECTION LAW 

VIOLATION AND MISDEMEANOR PENALTY. 

Sec. 4. Be it further enacted, That any violation of any of the pro- 
visions of this Act hereinbefore contained shall be deemed a misde- 
meanor, and indictable as such; and any person convicted thereof 
shall be punished by a fine of not more than five hundred dollars nor 
less than fifty dollars. 

NIGHT WATCHMAN. 

Sec. 5. Be it further enacted, That in all hotels or lodging houses 
containing more than fifty rooms, and being four or more stories high, 
the proprietor or lessee of each hotel or lodging house shall employ 
and keep a competent night watchman. 

Sec. 6. Be it further enacted. That every proprietor of such hotel 
or lodging house who shall fail to comply with the requirement of 
Section Five of this Act shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, 
and upon conviction, shall be punished in the same manner as pro- 
vided in Section Four in this Act. 

given IN CHARGE TO GRAND JURY. 

Sec. 7. Be it further enacted. That this Act shall be given in charge 
to the grand jury at each session, and they shall make due inquiry 
and indict and bring to trial all parties found guilty of violating any 
of its provisions. 

Sec. S. Be it further enacted. That all fines imposed and collected 
for any violation of the provisions of this Act shall be paid to the trus- 
tee of the county where such offense is committed, and for the use and 
benefit of the public common schools thereof. 

TWO STAIRWAYS. 

Sec. 9. Be it further enacted, That all hotels or lodging houses 
hereafter constructed in this State, over two stories in height, and 
over one hundred feet in length, shall be constructed so that there 
shall be at least two stairways for the use of guests leading from the 
ground floor to the upper story. 

Sec. 10. Be it further enacted. That this Act take effect sixty days 
after its passage, the public welfare requiring. 

Passed March 18, 1899. Seid Waddell, 

• Speaker of the Senate. 

Joseph W. Byrns, 
Speaker of the House of Representatives. 
Approved March 25, 1899. Benton McMillin, 

Governor. 



STATE OF TENNESSEE 1 1 



Department of Hotel Inspection 



RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR INSPECTION OF HOTELS. 

As required by law, the following rules and regulations are made 
by the Secretary of the State Board of Health and the State Hotel 
Inspector, for the enforcement of Chapter 63, Acts of 1911, and all 
other statutes pertaining to the inspection of hotels. These rules 
and regulations take effect January 1, 1912. Due notice will be given 
of changes. 

J. A. Albright, 
Secretary Tennessee State Board of Health. 
Lucius P. Brown, 
State Hotel Inspector of Tennessee. 

REGULATION 1. 
inspection. 
By Section 10, of the Hotel Inspection Law, each County and 
City Health Ofificer is ex-ofKicio an Assistant Hotel Inspector under 
the direction and control of the State Hotel Inspector. Such sani- 
tary officers are hereby charged with the inspection of hotels in ac- 
cordance with the law, and the regulations hereinafter set forth, and 
shall make inspections and certify same to the State Inspector prior 
to the issuance of certificates to the hotel. The Food and Drug 
Inspectors are charged with the inspection of all hotels, as they go 
from place to place in the performance of their duty under the Food 
and Drugs laws. The Food and Drug Inspectors shall check the 
inspection made by the local officials, observe if hotel has a certificate 
of inspection properly posted, and perform such other duties as the 
law and the State Hotel Inspector may direct. 

REGULATION 2. 
certificates. 
The issuance of a certificate for conducting the business of a hotel, 
as required under the pro^•isions of this law, shall be conditioned 
upon the compliance with the law, rules and regulations as certified 
to by the local inspectors aforesaid, and the approval of said inspec- 
tion by the State Hotel Inspector. 



12 RULES AND REGULATIONS 

REGULATION 3. 

TRANSIENT GUESTS. 

A transient guest, within the meaning of the law, shall be defined 
as a guest who is not a constant and continuous occupant of such 
hotel, or room therein, for more than a month, or not boarding by 
the month, or taking board and room for less time than by the month. 
All hotels or public lodging houses or places where sleeping accommo- 
dations are furnished for pay to transient guests conforming to the 
definition herewith, shall be construed in the definition of hotel in 
accordance with Section 1 of Chapter 63, Acts of 1911. 

FIRE PROTECTION. 
REGULATION 4. 

LIGHTS. 

At each opening to fire escapes^ both those now existing and all 
hereafter installed, there shall be placed a red light, which shall be 
kept burning during all hours in the night time. If electric, such red 
lights shall be on an independent and distinct circuit, separate and 
apart from all other electrical circuits in the building. Oil lamps 
may be used, provided the same are equipped with a metal bowl. 
No other form of light is permitted to be used. The provision of 
such light will in all cases be insisted on, and will be considered as a 
compliance as to requirements for fire-escape lights, with the pro- 
visions of Section 3, Chapter 178, Acts of 1S99. 

REGULATION 5. 

WATCHMEN. 

The time recording device to be used by the night watchman, re- 
quired to be used in hotels of fifty or more rooms, must be a standard 
device approved by the National Board of Fire Underwriters, or have 
the written approval of the local fire marshal or fire chief. No portion 
of the hotel, from the basement to the top floor, shall be visited less 
frequently than once every hour from 9 p. m. to 6 a. m. 

REGULATION 6. 

FIRE-ESCAPES. 

Fire-escapes shall be well fastened and secured and shall be of 
such number and of such material, design and construction as shall 



DEPARTMENT OF HOTEL INSPECTION 13 

receive the written approval of tlie local fire marshal or the fire 
chief, and shall have a landing not less than four feet in length and two 
feet in width, guarded by iron rails, not less than thirty inches from 
platform. An iron grille or heavy screen wire may be added, such 
grille or screen to be securely fastened to platform and rail. Such 
landings shall be connected with each other by wrought or malleable 
iron or steel stairways not less than two feet wide with' steps of not 
less than six inches tread, placed at an angle of not more than forty- 
five degrees, protected by tw^o or more well-secured guard rails on 
both sides of such stairways, and reaching to the first floor above the 
ground floor, and with a drop-ladder not less than tw^elve inches wide 
from the lower platform reaching to the ground. Such fire-escapes 
shall be sufficient if a perpendicular wrought iron or steel ladder be 
used between the platforms instead of the stairways, provided such 
ladder is placed at the extreme outside of the platform and at least 
three feet from the wall of the building, and provided said ladder is 
equipped with iron rounds not more than fifteen inches apart and not 
less than three-fourths inch in thickness and the side rails of which 
are not smaller than three-eighths by two inches if rectangular, or one 
and a half inch gas-piping if round. In all cases there shall be a ladder 
extending from the topmost platform to at least three feet above the 
fire wall or coping on the roof. In no event shall ladders pass directly 
in front of an opening in the wall, nor shall stairways pass in front of 
an opening in the wall, unless it is structurally impossible to avoid it. 
The provisions of the law as to obstructions to egress and the posting 
of notices must be literally observed. Fire-escapes must be kept 
adequately painted at all times to preserve the metal parts from rust. 

Every hotel now existing in the State of over three stories in height 
must have iron fire-escapes in accordance with Section 2, Chapter 
178, Acts of 1S99, which must conform to above specifications. 

Each hotel over two stories in height, which is at the same time 
over one hundred feet in length, must have two stairways for the use 
of guests from the ground floor to the top story, in accordance wath 
Section 9, Chapter 178, Acts of 1899. Such stairways must be con- 
veniently situated and of sufficient width to afford ready passage 
along them. 

REGULATION 7. 

ROPE FIRE-ESCAPES. 

All hotels, over two stories in height must have a rope fire-escape 
in each room, in accordance with Section 1, Chapter 178, Acts of 1899. 



14 RULES AND REGULATIONS 

This applies, necessarily, to all hotels in existence on January 1, 1912, 
the date on which the Act of 1911 goes into effect. Such rope fire- 
escape shall be not smaller than one inch in diameter, attached to an 
iron chain, the chain long enough to reach outside the window sill, 
which chain shall be securely fastened to the casing of wall at a point 
not lower than three and one-half feet above the window sill, the rope 
to be of sufficient length to reach the ground. Such rope must be 
free of knots. 

In lieu of the above described rope and chain there may be used 
any form of rope fire-escape device or portable ladder approved by 
the State Hotel Inspector. Such chain and rope or escape device 
shall be kept in plain sight at all times, and shall not be covered by 
curtains or other obstructions. Rope must be so reeled as to insure 
freedom from tangle or knots, when put to use and be kept within 
easy reach. A card bearing the words "Fire-escape," in letters not 
smaller than three inches high and printed in capitals, calling atten- 
tion to such rope and chain or other escape device, shall be posted in 
a conspicuous place in each bedroom or sleeping apartment. 

Such rope fire-escapes will not be required in existing hotels over 
three stories in height which are over one hundred and fifty feet in 
length, provided such hotels are equipped with halls, and iron fire- 
escapes conforming to Regulation 6 above, and to hotels equipped 
therewith as provided in Section 2, Chapter 178, Acts of 1899. 

REGULATION 8. 

FIRE EXTINGUISHERS. 

Each and every hotel, regardless of size, is required by law to be 
provided with at least one efficient chemical fire extinguisher of ap- 
proved pattern to every 1 ,500 square feet or less of floor area on each 
floor. The only type of chemical fire extinguisher approved by the 
State Hotel Inspection is the carbonic acid gas hand fire extinguisher, 
which bears the label of approval of the Underwriters' Laboratories, 
Incorporated. Neither chemical extinguishers of the breaking bottle 
type, dry powder type, or hand grenades will be approved. Such 
extinguishers shall be kept in convenient permanent locations in the 
public hallways, outside of the sleeping rooms and within easy reach, 
and shall be charged at intervals of not more than six months. Ex- 
tinguishers shall be provided with a tag, which tag shall bear the date 
on which the extinguisher was last charged, written in ink, and by 
whom charged. Hotels equipped with standpipe and hose, of not 



DEPARTMENT OF HOTEL INSPECTION 15 

less than two inches in diameter, attached to a wet pipe, or hotels 
equipped with a standard automatic sprinkler system which is kept 
up to the requirements of the National Board of Fire Underwriters 
are not required to have chemical extinguishers. 

REGULATION 9. 

BLIND ROOMS. 

The maintaining, letting or renting for sleeping purposes of a so- 
called blind room, or room without at least one direct exit to the out- 
side of the building or light-wells, air shafts or courts, is absolutely 
prohibited. 

REGULATION 10. 

ELEVATOR SHAFTS. 

Passenger or freight elevators hereafter remodeled or erected shall 
be enclosed with an iron sheeting, or brick or stone, as nearly air- 
tight as possible and with tight doors to shut shaft, or there shall be 
automatic trap doors in each floor of said shaft; provided, that in 
hotels more than three stories in height such elevator shafts shall be 
enclosed in brick or stone unless otherwise specifically agreed to and 
approved in writing by the local fire-marshal or fire-chief and the 
State Hotel Inspector. 

REGULATION 11. 

GAS STOVES. 

Wherever gas stoves are used, either for cooking or heating, they 
shall be supplied with permanent iron piping and vented into a prop- 
erly constructed brick flue. 

SANITATION. 

REGULATION 12. 

SEWERAGE, DRAINAGE, ETC. 

Each hotel is required to comply literally with Section 5 of the 
law, which section is self-explanatory. 

REGULATION 13. 

INDIVIDUAL TOWELS, SHEETS, ETC. 

Section 7 and Section 9 of the law require than hotels shall pro- 
vide each bed, bunk, cot, or other sleeping place for the use of each 



16 RULES AND REGULATIONS 

guest with clean sheets and clean pillow slips; also provide clean 
individual towels. The upper sheet provided for each bed, bunk, 
cot or other sleeping place shall be of sufficient width and length to 
reach the entire width and length of the bed and to fold back over 
the bedding at the upper end or head of such bed, bunk, cot or other 
sleeping place at least twelve inches, so as to afford protection from 
possible infection of the blankets or other permanent bedding by 
former occupants. 

The provision of law requiring the use only of clean sheets, and 
pillow cases, the providing of clean towels in the public washrooms 
and the disuse of roller-towels, must all be literally complied with. 



REGULATION 14. 

DISINFECTION. 

Section S of the Act requires all sleeping rooms to be thoroughly 
disinfected at least once in every three months. Rooms that have 
been occupied by any person or persons having an infectious or con- 
tagious disease, including the disease of tuberculosis are required to 
be thoroughly and efficiently disinfected before being again occupied. 

Disinfecting shall be carried out in the following manner: 

(a) Preparation of Room. The windows, doors (with the excep- 
tion of the one which is to give exit to the operator), registers, open- 
ings into keyholes, and all other apertures through which air can 
pass, must be sealed ; in other words, the room must be made as near 
air-tight as possible. Gumm.ed paper, put up in rolls, is made for this 
particular purpose; in lieu of it, however, common newspaper, cut 
into narrow strips and thoroughly wet, may be used, as it will remain 
in position long enough for the purpose. The paper used for sealing 
the cracks, whether gummed or not, should be wet with a solution 
of formaldehyde in order to disinfect the surface upon which it is to 
be pasted. All surfaces must be exposed as much as possible; closet 
doors opened and their contents, tog.ether with the contents of drawers, 
removed, scattered about and the drawers left open; mattresses set 
on end; pillows, bedding, clothing, etc., suspended from lines stretched 
across the room, or spread out on chairs or other objects, so as to ex- 
pose all sides; books opened and the leaves spread — in short, the 
room and its contents so disposed as to secure free access of the gas 
to all parts as fully as possible. Upon this preparation largely de- 
pends the thoroughness of the disinfection. 



DEPARTMENT OF HOTEL INSPECTION 17 

{b) Disinfectants. The approved disinfectant is formaldehyde gas. 

1. Disinfection by Formaldehyde {or Formalin). Three methods 
of procuring the formaldehyde are at present in quite general use, 
to-wit — the lamps which form formaldehyde gas by heating solidfied 
formaldehyde; the lamps which evaporate the solution of the gas 
and water (commercially known as formalin); and the sheet method, 
in which the solution of formalin is sprayed upon suspended sheets, 
from which it evaporates and diffuses throughout the room. 

These methods will all be recognized where proof shows they have 
been applied in a thorough manner, but the standard method of the 
State Board of Health, as described in Bulletin of Directions for Room 
Disinfection, Oct. 20, 1908, is recommended and preferred. In this, 
the formaldehyde gas is liberated from the solution (liquor formalde- 
hydi, U. S. P., or "formalin" containing about 37 per cent of gas, is 
usually used), by means of potassium permanganate. The process 
may be carried out as follows: One and one-half pints of formalin 
should be used for each 1,000 cubic feet of air space, and to each 
pint of solution use eight ounces of potassium permanganate crystals. 
Earthen jars or tin containers should be used and for the one and one- 
half pints of liquid above mentioned these should be of a capacity of 
not less than three gallons, for one or two quarts of liquid not less than 
five gallons. These large sizes are necessary because of the vigorous 
chemical action produced, with consequent frothing. After the room 
has been thoroughly prepared in the manner indicated, these jars 
should be placed on the floor in the center of the room, with a suffi- 
cient amount of powdered permanganate in them, the requisite amount 
of formaldehyde liquor added, and the person operating should im- 
mediately beat a hasty retreat, closing the door and sealing it. The 
chemical action generated by this process produces sufficient heat to 
thoroughly vaporize or liberate all the formaldehyde gas contained 
in the formalin solution. 

The room to be fumigated should be warmed to about 70 degrees 
F., and the air as moist as possible; the earthen jars or tin containers 
should be also warmed or wrapped with asbestos or some material 
to retain the heat generated by the chemical action, as heat is an 
important factor in completing the liberation of the gas in order to 
get the maximum quantity. After the room has remained closed for 
five or six hours, it should be opened up as freely as possible to admit 
light and air. 

In case of disinfection after diseases, the following precautions as 
to clothing, beds, etc., are to be observed: 



18 RULES AND REGULATIONS 

Heavy woolen clothing, silks, furs, stuffed bed covers, beds and 
woolen articles which cannot be treated with disinfectants must be 
hung in the room during fumigation, their surfaces thoroughly ex- 
posed and their pockets turned inside out. Afterwards they should 
be hung in the open air, beaten and shaken. 

Pillows, beds, stuffed mattresses, upholstered furniture, etc., 
must be cut open and their contents spread out and thoroughly fumi- 
gated. 

Carpets are best fumigated on the floor, but they should be after- 
wards removed to the open air and thoroughly beaten. 

Further, in the routine room disinfection, the above precautions 
must be taken as to bed clothing, pillows, mattresses, upholstered 
furniture and carpets. Formaldehyde gas is the most efficient known 
disinfectant when used as above, and is absolutely without harmful 
effects on furniture and fabrics, so that no damage may be feared 
from its use. 

Fumigation (so-called disinfection), with burning sulphur will not 
be recognized by this Inspection as complying with the law. It may 
be used for the destruction of insects, but the user should bear in 
mind its bleaching action on fabrics and its bad effect on metals. 

In cases in which it is proven to the satisfaction of the State Hotel 
Inspector that persons occupying rooms in hotels as permanent board- 
ers for a period of three months or more are not affected with conta- 
gious diseases of any character, permission may be extended to the 
managers of hotels to omit disinfection of such rooms during their 
occupancy by such permanent boarders. 

REGULATION 15. 

TOILETS. 

Water-closets and privies shall be disinfected at least once every 
week, or sufficiently often to prevent obnoxious odors or effluvia aris- 
ing therefrom. A simple and inexpensive solution may be prepared 
from chlorid of lime, one pound, water, three gallons. This solution 
is to be used freely in all closets, privy vaults, sinks, drains, etc. 

REGULATION 16. 

SANITARY CONDITION OF FOODS. 

The Sanitary Food Law, Chapter 473, Acts of 1909, governs the 
sanitary condition of foods served at hotels, and of the kitchens and 
dining rooms. This law will be rigidly enforced. 



^ DEPARTMENT OF HOTEL INSPECTION 19 

Places and receptacles where food is kept or stored are required 
to be kept mouse and rat proof and properly screened. Serving 
tables, trucks, trays, boxes, buckets, knives, saws, cleavers and 
other utensils and machinery used in moving, handling, cutting, 
chopping, mixing or serving foods are required to be thoroughly steril- 
ized daily by hot water or steam and thorough cleansing, and the 
clothes and hands of cooks, stewards and waiters must be clean and 
sanitary. No person suffering from any contagious disease including 
tuberculosis, shall be employed in the handling of food. Canned 
goods, w^hen opened, or prepared foods containing any of the fruit 
acids, are not permitted to be stored in tin or zinc containers. 

REGULATION 17. 

SCREENS, 

The wire window and door screens provided for by Sections 5 and 
8 must be of not coarser than 16 mesh wire gauze, except where 
screens have already been installed, in which case a 14 mesh wire 
gauze will be allowed. But all renewals of screens must be of 16 
mesh size. 

REGULATION 18. 

LAW ENFORCEMENT. 

All local health officers are hereby charged with the enforcement 
of this law, filing complaint with the District Attorney in case of 
violation of the law or the rules and regulations adopted thereunder, 
and notifying the State Hotel Inspector of such action. 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 



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